The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1887-05-14
CHARLES SUMMERS KINDNESS.
1t Was the Means of Saving one Man
from a Drunl1ard's Grave.
[From the Boston Recordl

ltrom the Boston Record
8 s'Do / remember Andrew ]. Rob
4 erts !" quoth an old State politician.
Yes. He had a checkered career. poor
man. But with all his SHORTCOMINGS he
was a bright, indeed brilliant man.
He was great politician years ago and
not only took extraordinary interest in
the questions of the day, but knew init
mately all the prominent public men.
& he was we'll read, intelligent, and
I good talker, but he had failing. He
could not be depended upon, and at
times was helpless.
she used to hang around the State Re
publican headquarters from morning
until night throughout the campaign,
and campaigns lasted in those days
nearly five months. 1t was during the
anti-slavery days, when everybody was
{ at the highest pitch of excitement.
remember one day in particular, when
number of prominent politicians were
assembled at headquarters, among them
Charles Sumner and Henry Wilson.
Sumner was in the rear room, Wilson
4 in the front. In walked Roberts. He
talked in loud voice and disturbed the
whole assembly. Stepping into the
rear room, he spied Sumner in earnest
conversation with a friend. Giving him
q tremendous slap on the shoulder he
shouted: D you, Sumner, hos aro
you9 Why don't You be as hearty and
genial as your friend Wilson
'"The effect of this rough handling Of
Sumner can readily be imagined by
those who remember or have read of the
8dignifed and scholarly man. 1t WAS
mot only a shock but an insult. Sum
ner turned as white as a sheet, but said
nothing. He realized Roberts condi-
tion and wisely kept his peace Roberts
was severely reprimanded and turned
out of the room.
cit was not long after this that Rob
erts came to want and grief He was
actually destitute. He looked hungry
and was poorly clad. In despair he
came to me one day for work or advice.
The big tears rolled down his cheeks rs
he told me how destitute and degraded
he was, and how he longed to reform.
SItold him l had no work, and advised
him to go to Sumner.
eco to Sumner, he said. oh, no,
j insulted Sumner short time ago.
can't CO.
"'Yes, You can, >" I said. Go to him
just as you have come to me. Tell him
frankly the whole story and he will help
you.
"Roberts did as 1 advised About 10
O'Clock the next morning he buttoned
his shabby coat around his neck, to hide
his flannel shirt, and made his way to
the man he had grossly insulted but q
short time before. Summer, it is we'll
known, was a late riser, and seldom
breakfasted before II o'clock. He re-
ceived the unfortunate man kindly, and,
inviting him to breakfast, listened
patiently to his story. Roberts told mo
afterward that it was the first square
meal he had eaten for long time. In
less than two days Roberts was given o
position in the navy yard, and hence
forth he was different man. When he
told me later his experience with Sum
ner that morning his eyes filled with
tears and his voice trembled with emo
ton. 1t was a magnanimous act on the
part of Sumner, and an outward ex-
preston of his true character.
''It was the turning point in Roberts
career. Only few months ago he de-
ivered one of the best temperance
speeches ever heard in my life. Up
to the day of his death, which occurred
quite recently, he had a great venera-
ton for the memory of Sumner, tho
man who was so generous and kind to
him in trouble.